LegalReader.com  ·  Legal News, Analysis, & Commentary

News & Politics

What are the Duties of an Accident Lawyer in Red Oak?


— August 31, 2022

The plaintiff’s injury lawyer needs to use the information they have to draft a complaint that formally starts the lawsuit.


Red Oak, LA – People retain legal help after an accident for a number of different reasons. The main purpose of getting assistance from a lawyer is to bring a civil lawsuit for compensation. However, if the victim wants the best chance at success, they will need to find an attorney who has relevant experience and understands the process of getting a favorable settlement. There are a few important things that accident lawyers must do to accomplish these goals. 

Meeting with the client

During the first meeting with the client, the attorney should get a basic understanding of their incident, their injuries and other losses, and the parties should both ask each other relevant questions. Based on the information that the lawyer gets, they can advise the client whether a lawsuit is necessary and the possible range of compensation available. If a formal attorney client relationship is established, the lawyer has a professional obligation to help the client in the best way they can. 

Gathering evidence

The chances of winning a lawsuit always depend on the quality of evidence available, and how favorable these items are to the plaintiff’s arguments. This means that the lawyer should be able to get things like testimony, pictures, videos, accident reports, and utilize them in a way that will demonstrate the defendant’s fault. Much of this information is exchanged during the discovery process after the case is filed and the defendant sends their response. 

Filing the lawsuit

The plaintiff’s injury lawyer needs to use the information they have to draft a complaint that formally starts the lawsuit. This document will have basic information about the accident, legal argument, and a statement of losses. This last section about losses or damages is especially important because it gives a summary of all of the plaintiff’s current and future projected financial problems that are due to the crash. 

Settlement negotiations

Handshake
Image courtesy of Shutterbug75 via Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

The vast majority of accident cases will end with a settlement rather than the need for a full trial in court with all of the associated fees and expenses. The accident lawyer will understand how to go through this process and get their client most or all of the compensation that they need. Their understanding of the client’s damages and losses needs to be thorough, as the settlement will mark the absolute end of all future litigation related to the same incident. 

More information from experienced lawyers

Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf is a law firm that handles accident cases for local clients in Red Oak and the rest of Louisiana. Their attorneys can provide advice about the process to bring a civil lawsuit and receive compensation. 

Join the conversation!